Fireproof floor.



J. A. WHEELER.

FIREPROOFFLOOR. APELICATION FILED OCT. 1! 192689?0 .1912 RENEWED SEPT. 25, 1917.

Patented June 4, 191% To all whom it may concern:

TED era JAMES A. WHEELER, 0]? SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

FIREPROOF FLOOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4, 1918 Application filed October 11, 1912, Serial No. 725,281. Renewed September 25, 1917. Serial No. 193,195.

Beit known that I, JAMnsA. WHEELER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the county of- Somerset, in the State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fireproof Floors, of which the following is a specification.

, This invention relates to fireproof floors,

and it has forits object to provide a simple and improved floor constructionwhich can be readily and economically placed in position, which will provide an attractive surface capable of various designs and coloring as desired, which will afford yielding and non-slipping characteristics approximating those afforded by a wood or lumber flooring, which will have the maximum degree of fireproof and moisture-proof qualities, and which will furthermore possess advantages in point of durability, strength, effectiveness and general efiiciency.

Usually, the floor structure in fireproof building constructions has been formed by a base of cementitious material or concrete carrying a surface of wood or tiles. When a wood surfacing is thus employed, furring strips have usually been laidin the plastic base and ordinary flooring lumber has been secured to such strips and laid in the, usual manner. Such a construction as that just H described is not only lacking in fireproof characteristics, but is also disadvantageous in cases of imperfect connection between the wood surfacing and the plastic base. When such flfloor structures have employed a tile or stone surface, the tiles or slabs have been laid directly in the plastic base, but i this construction is also lacking in the maximum offireproof characteristics, as natural stone slabs or tiles are liable to disintegration under theiaction of heat, as are also artificial ceramic tiles or slabs, and furthermore in such constructions the tiles or slabs are apt to work loose from the base.

.My improvements are designed to overcome all of the objections pertaining to previous constructions as above noted and to provide an improved flooring which is not only absolutely fireproof and effectively maintained in fixed and'permanent connection with the plastic base, but which, while it is adapted for a wide range of surface designs and efi'ects, can be so employed that it will simulate an ordinary wood flooring.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a top or plan view of a section of a fireproof fiOOr constructed according to one form ofmy invention and improvements.

' Fig. 2 is a detail cross-section, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line aa-m, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top Or plan view of a section of a fireproof floor constructed according to another form of my inventionand improvements.

Figs is a detail cross-section, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line y-y, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a top or'plan view of one of the sections of a fireproof floor surface, as the same may be employed under one form of my invention and improvements.

Fig. 6 is a bottom or plan view of theunder side of the construction shown in Fig. 5.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the cementitious or concrete base of the floor structure as usually laid in fireproof building constructions, the base being placed while in plastic condition so that it afterward sets and hardens. 2 designates the improved surfacing which is carried by said base, as comprised in my invention and im provements.

The surfacing 2 is formed in its entirety of a fireproof and non-fragile composition which produces a rigid body undeformable by heat. The composition having these characteristics, from which the members of the surfacing 2 are formed, may be of any suitable materials adapted to be mixed into a plastic substance which is molded into desired shape, such as slabs or boards, and then compressed and dried in a rigid structure. For instance a fibrous reinforced plastic material, comprising asbestos as the fibrous element mixed with a filler or base of crushed burnt clayfor analogous substance and combined with a chemical fireproof binder, may be employed for the plastic mass which is pressed or molded into the boards or slabs from which the surfacing 2 is formed.

I prefer, however, in constructing the improved floor surfacing as comprisedin my present invention and improvements, to employ a solidified compound consisting of a suitable filler, such as burnt clay crushed intosmall particles or into a pulverous condition, mixed with asuitable amount of asbestos or analogous substance of fireproof quality, the mixture being combined with a soluble fireproof binder, such as silicate of soda, which is preferably in relatively small proportion, to produce a plastic substance, which moist p astic substance is molded into the desired shape, such as slabs or boards, and the molded article is subjected to heat and requisite pressure to dry and compress the same to the desired degree of density.

The improved surfacing of the floor structure, as comprised ininy invention and improvements, thus has not only absolutely fireproof and non-fragile characteristlcs, but is rigid and un'deformable byheat and furthermore possesses absolutely moisture-proof qualities and the degree of yielding and non-slipping characteristics which are desirable in a floor structure.

ent improvements.

The distinctive characteristics oftheflreproof and non-fragilebody composition of the surfacing 2, rigid and undeformableby the action of heat, arean important feature in the fireproof floor constituting my pres- For instance, ceramic tiles or artificialstone slabsare of fragile nature and liable to disintegration under the action of heat, and it is furthermore necessary that they be usually of excess thickness to impart the desired degree of strength and operative service, whereas in contradistinction the improved surfacing 2 as above set forth, formed of a fibrous reinforced plastic material or composition having the characteristics abovedescribed, resists any action of heat and maybe laid in comparatively thin strips. It will also be noted that the slabs or boards constituting the improved surfacing 2, formed of artificially" united substances solidifiedto resist strain andhavingthe desired degreeof density, and having the fireproof and moisture-proof and non-fragile characteristics and the rigid and undeformable qualities under theaction of heat,.constitute an artificial floor surfacing which is capable of all the uses in which wood is ordinarily employed, simulates a wood flooring, and may be securedby driven nails or otherwise worked in the same mannor as wood.

In the preferred features of construction, as herein illustrated, the surfacing 2 is constituted' by two thicknesses, the under one of which, as at 3, is a base slab or board, while the upper thickness, as at 4, forms the top surface. Both the under and top thicknesses 3 and 4 are formed of the fireproof and nonfragile and rigid and undeformable composition as above set forth, so that the surfacing 2 has the same qualitiesin its en tirety, and the top thickness 4 is secured in connection with and over the top surface area of the under thickness? by a suitable adhesive, as at 5, or in any other adopted manner.

The dimensions of the sections of the surfacing 2, with relation to the entire floor area, may be as desired. For instance, the under slabs orboards 3may be of desired size to form floor-surfacing sections, each of such sections carrying a plurality of the top slabs or boards 4, and thus the top surface 4 will-represent small sections in desired de-.

signs to simulate ordinary flooring or tiles andthe under-slabs or boards 3 willbe inf wood flooring. In Figs. 3 and 4, I have illustrated a construction similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in which relatively lar e under sections 3 respectively carrying apdurality of top parallel slabs or strips 4 are laid at right-angles, so that the strips 4 upon one slab section 3 runat right-angles to the top strips of the adjoining slab section, thus simulating a parquetry design of flooring; In. Figs. 5 and 6,1 have illustrated one sectionof a floor surface in another form of construction accordingto my invention, in which the section is constituted by an under slab orboard3 carrying at its top surface a plurality of slabs 4 whichin configuration and relative arrangement simulate a tile floor surface in fanciful design, itbeing understood that the complete floor surface is formed by a plurality of such un der sect-ions 3 relativelyplaced to carry out the desired configuration or design of the composite floor surface. i

The abuttingedges of the plurality of top slabs or strips 4 which are carried by the relatively large under slab or board 3 are preferably secured in connection,'by a suitable adhesive, as at 6, or in any other adapted manner, and the abutting edges of therespective sectionswhich are constituted by the relatively large under slabs or boards3 are preferably likewise secured together, in the organization of the complete floor structure, as shown at 7 in Figs.'2 and 4. The top slabs or strips 4 arepreferablysuitably colored, either uniformly, as when the floor is designed to simulate a wood flooring or a linoleum oranalogous surfacing, or variably, as when the floor surface is designed to simulate an ornamental tiling ormosaic. Such coloring preferably eXists throughout the body mass of the slabs or stripsj4, and may be effected by mixing a suitable pig ment orcoloring matterwith the composition of which the slabs or strips are' formed beforethe same are molded and dried and compressed in finished condition.

In practice, the assembling of the under slabs or boards 3 and the top slabs or strips 4 in secured connection adhesively or otherwise, to produce the composite rigid structure constituting the section of the fioor surface, may be effected under pressure in a suitable press or other adapted apparatus.

It will be noted that in the double thickness construction as above described, the association of a plurality of top slabs or strips 4 in connection with the under slab or board 3 produces in effect a laminated surfacing structure, which laminated conditions materially enhance the strength of the surfacing and its effective resistance to strains.

The surfacing sections of the improved flooring are secured preferably in direct connection with and carried by the main cementitious or concrete base 1, and my improvements comprise means for the secure and permanent interlocking of the surfacing with said base. In the preferred construction for this purpose, the under slabs or boards 3 of the floor sections are provided With perforations, 8, preferably undercut, as at 9, forming undercut or dovetail recesses in which the plastic of the cementitious or concrete base 1 will firmly engage and interlock with the surfacing floor sections. These perforations 8 preferably extend entirely through the slabs or boards 3, so that the base of the recess is formed by the under side of the upper slabs or strips 4:.

In the practical construction of the improved floor structure, the surfacing 2 is applied to the main base 1 while the latter is in plastic condition, so that the cementitious or concrete material embeds in the recesses constituted by the perforations 8 and sets and hardens therein, thus securely and permanently binding and locking the surfacing 2 in connection with the main base 1.

It will also be understood that in the construction of the floor surfacing sections in the various forms as indicated in Figs. 1

to 6, inclusive, in which the two thicknesses 3 and 4: are employed, the under slab or board 3 mayoarry a single top slab or board 4 of corresponding area, under some circumstances of construction, in lieu of a plurality of slabs or strips 4, and that the sections constituted by the double thickness of slabs or boards 3 and 4 of corresponding area may be of any desired configuration to produce a composite floor design.

It will further be understood that, within the purpose and scope of my improvements, the surfacing 2 may be secured in connection with the main floor base 1 in any suitable or adapted manner and under various structural conditions. For instance the surfacing 2 may be Worked or employed in the same manner as ordinary wood.

The advantages of my invention and improvements will be readily understood. The improved fioor provides in maximum degree not only fireproof and moisture-proof qualities, but is rigid and undeformable by the action of heat, non-fragile and durable, and possesses the advantages of comparative inexpensiveness and facility in manufacture and laying. The surfacing affords all of the desired non-slipping qualities and conditions of tread, and the construction and arrangement enables not only the simulation of ordinary wood or tile but permits of a Wide range of surface design.

I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the detail construction and arrangement of parts as herein shown and described, as it is manifest that variations and modifications therein may be resorted to, in the adaptation of my invention to varying conditions of use, Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention and improvements. I therefore reserve the right to all such variations and modifications as properly fall within the scope of my invention and the terms of the following claim.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

improved fireproof floor surfacing, comprising a cementitious base, a top surface formed of a plurality of sections each consisting entirely of a solidified fireproof and non-fragile composition which is rigid and of low heat conductivity and undeformable by heat and each of said sections being formed of a plurality of slabs or strips coin positely secured together, and a plurality of sections intermediate of said top-surface sections and said cementitious base and each consisting of a solidified fireproof and nonfragile composition which is rigid and of low heat conductivity and undeformable by heat, each of said intermediate sections having an area underlying a plurality of the slabs or strips which compositely form the respective top-surface sections and being secured to the under surface thereof and provided with means for securing an interlocking connection with the cementitious base.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in the presence of the subscribing Witnesses.

JAMES A. WHEELER. Witnesses:

J 0s. REED Lrr'rELL, MADELINE RosENLIcH'r.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

